STRAFFORD — Dozens of firefighters were on scene early Monday morning responding to a five-alarm blaze that destroyed a three-story residence on First Crown Point Road.

Strafford Fire Chief Paul Stover said two homeowners and their four children, including a baby, according to the Union Leader, made it out of the 242-year-old farmhouse home at 483 First Crown Point Road without injury. He described the home as “a total loss” and said the homeowners threw their cat out of a window before they left. He said the feline had most likely fled the area as several truck engines pulled up the snow-covered road.

WMUR-TV identified the homeowners as Scott and Elaine Boyce. Scott Boyce said he woke up to the fire when as he slept, he felt heat on his back.

“That’s where the flames were coming from was the bed,” Scott Boyce told WMUR.

Stover was one of the first on scene at about 4:30 a.m. on Presidents Day. He said the house is only five minutes away from his home and directly next door to the fire department’s satellite station on that street.

The homeowners made the original call, Stover added, noting heavy winds caused the original fire to grow quickly to be much larger in size, with black smoke enveloping the area and flames devouring the structure.

Between 4:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. the fire was continually upgraded, from a one-alarm to a five-alarm incident. Stover said the fire was officially knocked down around 8 a.m.

An estimated 100 firefighters responded to the scene, from as far away as Milton, Alton, Pembroke and Allenstown. More firefighters were needed as crews became exhausted, fighting the fire in freezing conditions. They crowded the First Crown Point Road station to get warm in between shifts.

Additional fire engines were needed to bring water to the scene as trucks’ water supply was impaired by the cold temperatures. A Barrington crew worked approximately two miles from the scene to harness a large supply of water from a nearby brook.

Stover said there was no known cause of the fire, though he said officials would continue to investigate as they worked throughout the remainder of the day to dig up hot spots and clear the scene.

Responding fire departments included those from New Durham, Barrington, Nottingham, Rochester, Milton, Alton, Farmington, Pembroke, Chichester, Allenstown and Pittsfield. The Union Leader also reported Loudon, Northwood, Barnstead and Deerfield were also called to the scene.